After I joined several lawn, garden and horticulture Facebook groups my landscape professional life improved considerably. Normally, I have very little time for Facebook but group posts can be interesting and informative. And the discussions that ensue can be entertaining.
UK mulch job
Let’s consider the mulch job below from the UK. (Disclaimer: the picture is used with permission.)
What do you see?
Remember, it would be wrong to crucify the landscape contractor without extra information. It’s possible that he or she might have been following detailed specifications so blame, if any, would be better directed at the designer.
Island
I immediately noticed the grass island in the sea of mulch. Why keep it? It will lead to several issues.
One issue is grass maintenance. Are we leaving it shaggy and meadow like or are we cutting it? I don’t see a tree guard so the chances of tree-machine conflict are high. We already know that repeated tree bark abuse can stress the tree and delay its growth. It can eventually kill it.
I also don’t see a tree well around the tree that could minimize the chances of tree-machine conflicts and limit grass competition for resources.
Second issue is grass competition. We already know that young trees planted in grass fields struggle due to competition. Grass successfully competes with trees for water and nutrients so young trees struggle to establish. Grass often wins.
This is especially true of trees with tap roots.
Third issue might be maintenance worker access to the tree island if the bed is planted later. I see future plant trampling and soil compaction.
Trampled plants must be replaced and compacted soils limit water and nutrient uptake.
Fourth issue will be grass island expansion. The green island will push out and expand as the grass grows, unless it’s religiously edged.
Or the grass might suffer because it’s such as tiny ecosystem.
Conclusion
I would personally remove the green island so the tree doesn’t have to suffer from grass competition for resources. Namely water and nutrients.
Removal would also eliminate any need for grass maintenance.
